For 9 months I painted Plein Air the disappearing Dairies and Ranches as they close their businesses that have been there since the 1860's and  have been a  part of life at the Point Reyes National Seashore  North of San Francisco 

Painted outdoors

These paintings are all completed entirely outdoors. I will paint in all weather taking up to 4 hours to complete a plein air watercolor. 

January 2019 I chose to paint everyday scenes from my home featuring life in my kitchen and living room

with only one 1/2 inch flat Robert Simmons synthetic brush and no pencil.

It was very surprising and liberating.

Painting Plein Air in Winter, Woodland and Moss Landing Ca 

Mud Flat Ranch Moss Landing, California .

Capturing Spring down near Watsonville close to Monteray Bay.

This Ranch has been owned by the one family since 1860's 2020

Painted entirely Plein Air social distancing during Covid 19 . 

Awe. The SS RED OAK VICTORY  cargo ship built at the Kaiser Steel Ship Yards in 1944. I am currently painting dockside a series of this impressive floating example of a world war 11 ship built by women.

I am focusing on painting reflected light on the massive grey hull and the complex geometric shapes found in the structure, rigging and adjacent crane. The funnel is one of my favorite objects to paint being central to everything and is particularly tall and partially repainted.

The ship is part of the Rosie the Riveter National Park in Point Richmond, California and undergoing a volunteer based restoration. Recently the engineers fired up the boilers to much fan fair. There is never a dull moment when I am down there painting and the ship is open to the public 4 days a week .  

Interior Paintings from life . 

Many of these paintings are from my sun kissed home in Berkeley. I set my easel up and and love studying familiar spots or objects. I think there is a great warmth in these paintings and my kids love seeing when I create new ones. 

For over 31 days I painted in rain and hail or shine during a very wet and cold January in The Ocean View district of Berkeley.This area is undergoing change with increased housing and industry needs.  

With my back ground in architectural rendering  I love drawing buildings and standing on the streets for hours painting is such a joy watching patterns of life emerge.

Travelling and participating in Plein Air Events gives me the opportunity to paint places and landscapes uncommon to me. It is always interesting to see how I respond in brushwork and color to the changes. Weather and the time of year becomes a huge influence too. 

Explorations painting plein air . Seeking rich textured landscapes 

Having grown up on Sydney Harbor in Australia. I find I yearn to paint the sea and its surrounds. This can be in the form of coastal towns, beaches, boats, cliffs, surf, landscape and rivers.